Bill sets safeguards for scholastic athletes

I am writing to provide some clarity to Paul Carpenter's recent column regarding legislation, which I have sponsored that provides for necessary protections to Pennsylvania's student athletes from the potentially life-threatening risk of traumatic brain injury.

The Safety in Youth Sports Act, Senate Bill 200, sets necessary and appropriate standards for treatment of interscholastic athletes who suffer traumatic head injuries. SB 200 sets education requirements for school districts and requires athletic coaches to take the management concussion training course on a yearly basis so they are aware of the latest information in dealing with concussions/head injuries with athletes.

Currently, PIAA officials are the only individuals who have the authority to remove a player from play and require a physician to sign off on the return to play of that athlete. SB 200 promotes a "team" approach and allows officials, coaches, athletic trainers and physicians to create appropriate protocols to step in and remove an athlete from play if there are signs of a brain injury.

Most importantly, SB 200 bars student-athletes from returning to the playing field after a head injury/concussion until they are thoroughly evaluated and released by a medical professional — specifically a physician, a certified athletic trainer and/or a licensed psychologist neuropsychologically trained in the evaluation and management of concussions. All of these individuals are the experts and have been at the forefront of research and clinical practice on concussions.

Under SB 200, only athletic trainers who have been properly and thoroughly trained in the management and evaluation of concussions will be permitted to clear a student to return to action after suffering a head injury. The fact is that currently in the commonwealth, athletic trainers work under the direction of physicians through direct communications and/or a written protocol, when it comes to releasing a player to return to play, whether it is for a sprained ankle or a head injury. The National Athletic Trainers Association requires that part of the training for athletic trainers be on the field injuries and head injuries/concussions are a major component of this training. Most times athletic trainers are the most qualified people on the issue of concussions and head injuries.

In regards to returning to play, the athletic trainer is the first line of defense in the school when it comes to an athlete being hurt. This is the person whom the athlete sees on a daily basis and talks with about his injury. Working together in a collaborative fashion, medical professionals, coaches and athletic trainers will ensure that students get back to the playing field in a safe and timely manner.

My office, along with Rep. Tim Briggs, has worked in conjunction with the PIAA, the Brain Injury Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Physical Therapists Association, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the NFL, and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Association on this legislation, all of which have provided extremely valuable input as to the best approach to address traumatic brain injury suffered by our talented scholastic athletes. Furthermore, all of these parties, including the PIAA, are in support of the legislation.

I am encouraged by the strong support this legislation has received from groups involved in all aspects and levels of athletics as well as the health care community. I am also pleased that it has strong bipartisan support among my colleagues in the Senate and the House and am optimistic that we can enact these important safeguards for our student athletes.